Moisture detector



Oct. 11, 1932. w CLEARY 1,882,316

MOISTURE DETECTOR Filed Nov. 3, 1927 Patented 0... 1i, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

WALTER D. CLEARY, OF NUTLEY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE DE LAVAL S EPARATOB GOMPAN Y, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MOISTURE DETECTOR Application filed November 3, 1927. Serial No. 230,913.

In different processes and apparatuses in which are employed bodies, or flowing streams, of oil, gasoline or other liquid, it is necessary that such liquid be maintained partially free of water in a free or combined state, and sometimes of other contaminating ingredients. Examples of such processes and apparatuses are dry cleaning plants in which are carried out processes involving the use of. gasoline or other solvents, and the use of insulating oils for insulating the windings of power line and high voltage transformers.

The object of this invention is to provide means for positively detecting the presence of moisture or water, and of other impurities such as water combined with various chemicals, in oil, gasoline, solvents and other liquids in order that the liquid may be removed or its flow arrested and the liquid purified.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, which, for convenience, I shall refer to as a moisture detector, is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the moisture detector.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

The device comprises a casting a, which may be of iron or other suitable material and of any desired size and shape. The casting is provided, if the detector is interposed 1n a flowing stream of oil, gasoline or other liquld 1 or solvent, with end openings 2' that may be threaded to adapt it for connection with pipe sections. A detector element, hereinafter fully described, comprises a plate 11 adapted to function as a cover for the casting. A retaining ring I) is applied over the cover 11, and screws 0, extending through ring Z; and plate 11 into casting a, confines the ring and plate on the casting and holds the detector element in position in the flow chamber of the casting.

The detector element comprises, in addition to plate 11, a series of other plates, of any desired number, such as 12, 13 and 14. The plates are of any metal adapted to withstand the action of any chemicals that may be dissolved in the water. The plates 1114 are strung on rods 'd and e, which project above the top plate 11 and carry nuts f and binding posts 9. The lower plate rests on heads at the lower ends of the rods and the plates are spaced apart by means ofsleeves 7c of insulating material. The sleeves are so different- 1y arranged on rods cl and e that alternate plates 11 and 13 are in contact with one rod d and insulated from rod 6, while the remaining (alternate) plates 12 and 13 are in contact with rod and insulated from rod d.

Confined between the binding posts f and nuts 9 of the respective rods are Wires forming the terminals of an electric circuit :22, wherein is interposed an audible or visible alarm y. Alarm y diagrammatically indi cates any mechanism which is operable by the closing of the circuit and which therefore may be considered the equivalent of an alarm. Thus, it is within the skill of an electrical engineer to provide means, actuable by the closing of the circuit, for arresting the flow of water, but such means form no part of my invention and need not be described.

By the use of my detector, it is found that if, in a flowing stream of gasoline, oil or other liquid or solvent, any impurity, such as water, free or combined, is present, it will create a short circuit between adjacent plates and will therefore close the'normally open electrical circuit :0 and actuate the alarm 3 It is found, when the device is intended for use to detect moisture in oil or gasoline, that it is suitable to space apart adjacent plates a distance of about one-eighth inch. Different processes may require or make advisable the spacing apart of adjacent plates a distance less than that specified or permit them to be separated a somewhat greater distance.

The invention is applicable to the detection of any electrically conductive impurities in any relatively electrically non-conductive liquid.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for detecting the presence of electrically conductive impurities in liquid that are not electrically conductive which comprises a container for the liquid, a plurality of spaced-apart plates of electrically conductive material within said container and immersible in said liquid, rods extending through all of the plates, one rod being in electrical connection with alternate plates and insulated from the remaining plate or plates and the other rod being in electrical connection with said remaining plate or plates and insulated from said alternate IQ plates, and an electric circuit with opposite poles of which said rods are respectively electrically connected.

2. Means for detecting the presence of electrically conductive impurities in liquids that are not electrically conductive which comprises a container for the liquid, a series of spaced-apart plates of electrically conductive material within said container and im mersible in said liquid, two rods connectible 2 with the respective poles of an electrical circuit, extending through said plates, one rod being in electrical connection with one set of alternate plates and the other rod being in electrical connection with the remaining plates, and electrically non-conductive platespacing sleeves on each rod extending between alternate plates with which such rod is in electrical Contact and on which the other plates are in sleeved relation.

3. Means for detecting the presence of electrically conductive impurities in liquid that are not electrically conductive which comprises a container for the liquid, a plurality of spaced-apart plates of electrically conduc- 05 tive material within said container and immersible in said liquid, a removable cover for the container, and means adapted to electrically connect opposite poles of an electric circuit with adjacent plates, said means comprising plate-suspending means depending from and carried by the cover.

4. Means for detecting the presence of electrically conductive impurities in liquid that are not electrically conductive which comprises a container for the liquid, a plurality of spaced-apart plates of electrically conductive material within said container and immersible in said liquid, a removable cover for the container, and means, depending from the cover, adapted to electrically connect opposite poles of an electric circuit with adjacent plates and mechanically supporting opposite ends of each of the plates.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at city of New York,

N. Y., on this 22nd day of October, 1927.

WALTER D. CLEARY. 

